A Sibling's Tale (Dominic Edition)

 

STORY

 

The cat’s out of the bag when an evil feline king kidnaps a little girl and forces her brother to go out and rescue her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERS

 

NARRATOR: The storyteller.

DOMINIC: A timid young boy who is forced

to face his fears during a time of need.

SALLY: Dominic’s brave older sister.

KING KAT: An evil giant cat who wants

to rule the land.

KAT ONE: King Kat’s minions.

KAT TWO

KAT THREE

KAT FOUR

EXTRA KATS: Other kats as desired.

BEIRD ONE: Eccentric birds who assist

King Kat with his crimes.

BEIRD TWO

BEIRD THREE

BEIRD FOUR

EXTRA BEIRDS: Other beirds as desired.

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: King Kat’s comrade

who rules all beirds.

WHIMBIRD ONE: Very eccentric birds that

help with King Kat’s chaos.

WHIMBIRD TWO

WHIMBIRD THREE

WHIMBIRD FOUR

EXTRA WHIMBIRDS: Other whimbirds as desired.

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: King Kat’s comrade

who rules all whimbirds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NARRATOR: The story begins in a happy little town, where a shy, young boy named Dominic lives.

 

(DOMINIC enters SR.)

 

DOMINIC: (Nervously.) (To the AUDIENCE.) Hello.

 

NARRATOR: Dominic has a little trouble taking his first steps into the world. He’s always worried something bad is going to happen.

 

(SALLY enters SR.)

 

SALLY: Hey, little brother! Let’s go on an adventure! You and me!

 

DOMINIC: (Nervously.) I don’t know, sis. What if one of us gets hurt? Or worse?

 

SALLY: Stop your worrying and have some fun!

 

(SALLY grabs DOMINIC’S hand and drags him off SL.)

 

NARRATOR: That’s Sally, Dominic’s older sister. She’s quite the adventurous type, always excited about what awaits her.

 

(KING KAT enters SR.)

 

KING KAT: (Menacingly.) Be afraid, little boy. Be VERY afraid!

 

NARRATOR: And here, we have King Kat, the evil ruler of a nearby land.

 

KING KAT: (Looks SR.) Come, my royal subjects! We have some trouble to do!

 

(KATS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR enter SR.)

 

KAT ONE: Coming, your majesty!

 

KAT TWO: (Saluting.) Awaiting orders, sir!

 

KING KAT: (Pointing SL.) See those two kids playing off in the distance?

 

KAT THREE: Yeah. You want us to get them?

 

KING KAT: You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

KAT FOUR: Consider it done, boss!

 

(KATS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR exit SL.)

KING KAT: This land is as good as mine!

 

(KING KAT exits SR.)

 

NARRATOR: Uh-oh! Things aren’t looking good! I hate to say it Dominic, but it sounds like you’re really going to have to step out of your comfort zone.

 

SALLY’S VOICE: Let me go, you oversized bag of fuzz!

 

KING KAT’S VOICE: Stop struggling, kid. You’ll live longer.

 

DOMINIC’S VOICE: Sally!

 

SALLY’S VOICE: Be brave, Dominic! Everything’s going to be ok!

 

DOMINIC’S VOICE: No it’s not!

 

SALLY’S VOICE: You really need to be more optimistic, Dominic! It’s the only way we’re going to get through this!

 

KING KAT’S VOICE: Take a good long look, little boy. This is the last time you’ll ever see her. Ha ha ha ha!

 

(DOMINIC enters SL.)

 

DOMINIC: I always knew something bad was going to happen, and I was right! I guess there’s only one thing to do. (Pulls out a piece of paper and a pen, and begins writing. Then starts packing yellow boomerangs.) Letter to mom and dad? (Looks at paper.) Check. Boomerangs? (Looks at boomerangs.) Check. Well…(Gulps nervously.) Here I go!

 

(DOMINIC exits SL while KING KAT enters SR with SALLY in his grip, followed by KATS ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR.)

 

KING KAT: Ah, home sweet home.

 

SALLY: (Observes her surroundings.) You call this home?

 

KING KAT: Don’t mock me, or it’s straight to the grave. (To KATS ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR.) Royal subjects, (Points SR.) make sure that little boy doesn’t get here.

 

KAT ONE: Yes, your majesty. (Exits SR.)

 

KAT TWO: We will not let you down! (Exits SR.)

 

KAT THREE: Not on purpose, at least. (Exits SR.)

KAT FOUR: We’ll assemble some of your finest recruits for added measure, if that’s all right with you.

 

KING KAT: Please do. The more, the merrier!

 

(KAT FOUR exits SR while DOMINIC enters SR.)

 

DOMINIC: I’m as good as dead!

 

(KAT ONE enters SL.)

 

KAT ONE: Halt! Who goes there? Ah, the little boy my Lord has told me about.

 

DOMINIC: Can I get through…please?

 

KAT ONE: No! That’s strictly against King Kat’s order. You shall not pass.

 

DOMINIC: Let’s not be so hasty. I mean, sure, we’re different, but just on the outside. We’re exactly the same on the inside, and we have a lot more in common than you think.

 

KAT ONE: How so?

 

DOMINIC: Well…(Looks around nervously and notices the sky.) (Points to the sky.) We live under the same sky and in the same world. We both have hearts and meaningful lives. We…

 

KAT ONE: All right, all right. I’ve heard enough.

 

(KAT ONE hisses and charges after DOMINIC, who jumps out of the way while screaming.)

 

DOMINIC: What are you doing?! Cats are supposed to be cute and cuddly, not mean and scary!

 

KAT ONE: Too bad, kid. That’s how we are.

 

(KAT ONE hisses and charges after DOMINIC again, who jumps out of the way and screams again.)

 

KAT ONE: Stop moving!

 

DOMINIC: I don’t want to get hurt!

 

KAT ONE: Life’s hard, kid. Get used to it.

(DOMINIC pulls out a boomerang and swings it wildly with his eyes closed, eventually hitting KAT ONE on the head with it and rendering him unconscious.)

 

DOMINIC: (Opening HIS eyes and noticing the unconscious KAT ONE.) Oh! Did I do that? Now’s not the time to worry. I’d better get out of here before he wakes up.

(DOMINIC exits SL while KAT TWO enters SL.)

KAT TWO: Hey, buddy. I need to…(Notices the unconscious KAT ONE.) (Tapping KAT ONE.) Can you hear me? (No response from KAT ONE.) (Shaking KAT ONE.) Answer me, buddy!

(DOMINIC enters SR.)

DOMINIC: Another cat?

KAT TWO: (Angry.) What happened to my partner in crime?

DOMINIC: I hit him in the head with (Showing boomerang.) this.

KAT TWO: You what?!

DOMINIC: (Nervous.) I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just that, he was coming after me and I didn’t want to get hurt.

KAT TWO: Well, now I’m going to hurt you!

(KAT TWO hisses and charges after DOMINIC, who pulls out a boomerang and swings it wildly with his eyes closed, eventually hitting KAT TWO on the head with it and rendering him unconscious.)

DOMINIC: (Opening HIS eyes and noticing the unconscious KAT TWO.) Oh! I did it again!                                                                                               

(DOMINIC exits SL while KAT THREE enters SL.)

KAT THREE: Hey, guys! I’m reporting for duty! (Silence.) Guys? (More silence.) Hello? (Shaking KAT ONE and KAT TWO.) Why won’t you answer?

(DOMINIC enters SR.)

DOMINIC: (Softly.) Stay calm, Dominic. Don’t draw attention to yourself.

KAT THREE: (Drawing HIS attention to DOMINIC.) Too late!

(KAT THREE growls and chases after DOMINIC, who screams and runs away. Pursuit continues until KAT THREE tires himself out and falls asleep.)

DOMINIC: (Sighs in relief.) Finally. I thought that would never end.

(DOMINIC leaves SL with KAT FOUR coming in SL.)

KAT FOUR: I wonder how my buddies are doing? (Noticing KAT ONE, TWO, and THREE.) How’s it going, guys? (Silence.) Guys? (More silence.)

(DOMINIC enters SR.)

DOMINIC: (Gasps.) Another one!

KAT FOUR: (Angry.) What did you do to my friends?!

DOMINIC: It was an accident. Honest.

KAT FOUR: There won’t be any more accidents when I’m through with you!

DOMINIC: (Chuckles nervously.) (Backing away.) Nice kitty…

(KAT FOUR growls and chases after DOMINIC, who drops a boomerang that KAT FOUR begins playing with.)

DOMINIC: (Grabbing boomerang and playing with KAT FOUR.) You like my boomerang?

(DOMINIC continues playing with KAT FOUR using his boomerang until KAT FOUR tires out and falls asleep.)

DOMINIC: That wasn’t so bad. But, the worst is yet to come.

(DOMINIC leaves SL with KING KAT coming in SL.)

KING KAT: (Roars loudly, startling KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR awake.) Sleeping on the job?!

KAT ONE: No, your highness. You see…

KING KAT: (Points SL.) Get moving!

KAT ONE: Yes, your highness.

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR exit SL.)

KING KAT: And don’t let me catch you dozing off again!

(KING KAT exits SL while DOMINIC enters SR as its snowing.)

DOMINIC: (Shivering.) Why did I get myself into this?!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR enter SL.)

KAT ONE: All right, little boy. The jig’s up! This is where your journey ends!

DOMINIC: My sister’s in trouble! It can’t end here!

KAT TWO: Too bad!

DOMINIC: What’s going to happen if I don’t listen?

KAT THREE: That’s a good question. We’re just going to hurt you, like what we’ve tried doing so the last million times! And, we’ll have our pay cut.

KAT FOUR: I now get four treats a day instead of five!

KAT THREE: You think that’s bad? Instead of four treats, I now get three treats a day!

KAT TWO: You guys are lucky. My pay was cut to two treats a day instead of three.

KAT ONE: Oh, stop! You’re all acting like little kittens! Besides, my pay hasn’t been cut at all.

KAT FOUR: (Angry.) Teacher’s pet!

KAT ONE: Quiet, you!

(DOMINIC hightails SR with KAT TWO noticing.)

KAT TWO: Uh, buddy?

KAT ONE: (Angry.) What?!

(KAT TWO points SR with KAT ONE, THREE, and FOUR turning their attention to it.)

KAT THREE: (Sarcastically.) Way to go, guys.

KAT ONE: After him!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR run SR, chasing DOMINIC all around the AUDIENCE as time passes. DOMINIC picks up a snowball and throws it at KAT ONE with his eyes closed.)

KAT FOUR: Snowball fight!

(DOMINIC and KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR hurl snowballs at one another until DOMINIC hits KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR in the face, rendering them unconscious.)

DOMINIC: That was…kind of fun! Who doesn’t like snowball fights?

(DOMINIC exits SL as KING KAT makes his way in SL, growling loudly and startling KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR awake.)

KING KAT: (Angry.) You guys are worthless!

KAT ONE: Have a heart, boss. He’s always one step ahead.

KING KAT: Lies! All lies! You’re just not trying hard enough!

KAT TWO: You want us to try again?

KING KAT: (Points SL.) Just get back to the castle. You half-wits have a lot of work to do.

KAT THREE: But what about the boy?

KING KAT: I’ll send someone else! Now, get!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR exit SL with KING KAT following. DOMINIC enters SR in a sandy environment.)

DOMINIC: I hope no mummies come up out of the ground and bury me alive.

(BEIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR enter SL.)

BEIRD ONE: That’s going to be our job!

DOMINIC: No offense, but you guys…look rather weird.

BEIRD TWO: Don’t insult us like that! We were born this way!

BEIRD THREE: We may not have the best looks, but we have the best strategies of stopping you.

BEIRD FOUR: (Looks SL.) We’re ready when you are, boss!

(BIG WEIRDO BIRD enters SL.)

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: Fellow beirds, attack!

DOMINIC: Wait a minute. If you guys don’t have beards, then why are you called that?

BEIRD FOUR: It’s a play on words that combine “bird” with “weird”.

(DOMINIC snorts.)

BEIRD ONE: You dare mock the mighty beirds?!

BEIRD THREE: (To BIG WEIRDO BIRD.) What are we going to do, Big Weirdo Bird?

DOMINIC: Big Weirdo Bird?! (Laughing.)

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: (Annoyed.) Yeah, yeah. Very funny. Now, let’s…

(DOMINIC drops to the floor from laughing so hard.)

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: (Furious.) OK! THAT’S ENOUGH! IT’S NOT THAT FUNNY! BEIRDS, ATTACK!

(BEIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, along with BIG WEIRDO BIRD, approach DOMINIC, who comes to HIS senses and gasps in horror as HE hightails it SR, getting chased all around the AUDIENCE until picking up a handful of sand and throwing it into the eyes of BEIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, and BIG WEIRDO BIRD, who all close their eyes and try to wipe them with their wings.)

DOMINIC: Nice to see this stuff is useful for something.

(DOMINIC exits SL while BEIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, along with BIG WEIRDO BIRD, recover from their eye irritation.)

BEIRD ONE: He got away, boss.

(BIG WEIRDO BIRD hits BEIRD ONE in the head.)

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: I see that. What do you take me for? A fool?

BEIRD TWO: What do we do now, boss?

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: Make a run for it! If King Kat finds out about this, it’s curtains for all of us!

BEIRD THREE: Ooh! Ooh! How about we all fly south?

BIG WEIRDO BIRD: Any place is better than here.

(BIG WEIRD BIRD exits SR with BEIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR following. DOMINIC enters SR in another sandy environment.)

DOMINIC: I wish there was a way out of this place.

(WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, along with BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD, enter SL.)

WHIMBIRD ONE: Your wish is our command!

DOMINIC: This isn’t what I had in mind. Please, leave me alone, beirds.

WHIMBIRD TWO: We’re whimbirds, actually, the stronger and smarter cousins of our fellow beirds.

DOMINIC: Whimbirds? (Laughing.)

WHIMBIRD THREE: Our name is never taken seriously.

WHIMBIRD FOUR: Oh, great and powerful Big Whimsical Bird. What is it we must do for this nightmare to end?

DOMINIC: (Drops to the floor laughing.) Big Whimsical Bird?! THAT’S your name?! (Laughing.) You guys are killing me!

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: I like the sound of that.

DOMINIC: (Abruptly gasping in horror and stops laughing, collecting HIS thoughts and standing up while clearing HIS throat.) I didn’t mean literally. It was just a metaphor. You know…a figure of speech? (Sheepish smile.)

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: Close enough. Whimbirds, let’s feast on the living flesh of this insensitive boy!

(WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, along with BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD, chase DOMINIC SL and around the AUDIENCE until DOMINIC gets an idea.)

DOMINIC: Wait. Why am I running?

(DOMINIC grabs a handful of sand and throws it into the eyes of WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, and BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD.)

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: (Spitting sand out while wiping HIS eyes.) What was that for?

DOMINIC: You tell me, you rats with wings.

WHIMBIRD FOUR: I think he did it to stop us, boss.

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: (Angry.) You think?!

WHIMBIRD THREE: (Sarcastically.) How very useful of you to point out the obvious.

(WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, along with BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD, continue spitting out sand and wiping their eyes.)

DOMINIC: (Softly.) Now’s your chance, Dominic! Move!

(DOMINIC runs SL while WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, and BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD, clear their eyes and mouth.)

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: (Angry.) You fools! He got away.

WHIMBIRD ONE: (Sarcastically.) Didn’t see that coming.

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: If you don’t shut your big, whimsical beak right now, you got another thing coming!

(WHIMBIRD TWO hears footsteps SL.)

WHIMBIRD TWO: (Taps BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD.) (Worriedly.) Boss?!

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: (Turns HIS attention to WHIMBIRD TWO with a death stare.) What?!

(WHIMBIRD TWO worriedly points SL with BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD and WHIMBIRD ONE, THREE, and FOUR drawing their attention to it, all gasping in horror.)

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD: (Nervously.) It’s the big cat! Quick! Fly away!

(BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD leads WHIMBIRD ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR SR while KING KAT enters SL.)

KING KAT: (Looking around.) Big Whimsical Bird? Where are you? (Continues looking around.) (Chuckles menacingly.) He’s gone. Well done, Big Whimsical Bird and whimbirds! You guys aren’t so weird after all!

(KING KAT exits SL.)

WHIMBIRD ONE’S VOICE: Uuuhhh, boss?

BIG WHIMSICAL BIRD’S VOICE: Shhh! What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

NARRATOR: And with that, Big Whimsical Bird and his flock join Big Weirdo Bird and his flock in their journey south to avoid a potentially unpleasant fate. Meanwhile, Dominic unknowingly makes it to King Kat’s castle, and he couldn’t be any more brave for the next bold move he’s about to make.

(DOMINIC enters SR.)

DOMINIC: (Exhausted.) How much longer until I get to the castle? (Notices the castle.) Oh! I’m already here! Hold on, Sally! I’m coming!

(DOMINIC runs SL with KING KAT entering SL and stopping him.)

KING KAT: Where do you think you’re going?

DOMINIC: To the bathroom. I’ve been holding it in since I left my house.

KING KAT: Nice try. But it’s going to take more than a little white lie to get past me.

DOMINIC: Ok, King Kat. You win. (Holds out hands.) I’m done fighting.

(KING KAT reaches for DOMINIC, who pulls out a boomerang and throws it at KING KAT, hitting him in the head.)

KING KAT: Ow! What are you trying to do?! Kill me?!

DOMINIC: No. Why would I do that?

KING KAT: I’m going to get you! …(Rubbing his head.) Just as soon as my head stops hurting.

DOMINIC: Take your time.

(DOMINIC heads SL, only to get blocked off by KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, who have dragged the caged SALLY out.)

KAT ONE: You’re not going anywhere!

KAT TWO: Don’t ruin this for us. You have no idea what we went through after our first encounter.

KAT THREE: It’s too hard (and disgusting) to even describe.

KAT FOUR: The horror!

KING KAT: That’s right. This is your guys’ last chance to capture this little brat, or it’s curtains for all of you! (To the AUDIENCE.) (Chuckles.) (Pun intended.) (Winks.) So, make it count!

KAT ONE: You heard him, men. Attack!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR attack and eventually apprehend DOMINIC, dragging him SR as KING KAT follows.)

KING KAT: To the moat!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR enter UL with DOMINIC in their grip, followed by KING KAT.)

KAT TWO: Awaiting orders, your evilness!

KING KAT: Toss him in the water! Let the brat drown in a watery grave!

KAT THREE: Yes, your evilness.

KAT FOUR: On three!

ALL KATS: (Swinging DOMINIC back and forth.) One…two…

DOMINIC: (Pointing UC.) Oh no! The Greek mythological dog, Cerberus, is coming to get us!

(KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR gasp in horror, dropping DOMINIC and looking around frantically.)

KING KAT: (Worried.) A dog?! Where?!

DOMINIC: (Pointing up.) Up there! He’s coming fast!

KAT ONE: What do we do, boss?

KING KAT: I’m thinking! I’m thinking!

KAT TWO: Better think fast! We’re not just talking any dog here!

KAT THREE: It’s Cerberus, the gate guardian of the underworld!

KAT FOUR: I hate dogs, especially Cerberus!

DOMINIC: (Points up.) He’s almost here!

(KING KAT, along with KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR, gasp in horror and look up frantically as they walk backward, eventually falling into the moat. DOMINIC hightails it UL while KING KAT and KAT ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR surface.)

KING KAT: Cerberus, please! Have mercy! We didn’t mean to anger you!

KAT ONE: Spare us of your wrath!

(KING KAT and ALL KATS begin crying with KAT FOUR eventually coming to his senses and not seeing Cerberus anywhere.)

KAT FOUR: It’s ok, guys. False alarm.

(KING KAT and KAT ONE, TWO, and THREE come to their senses and cannot find Cerberus anywhere.)

KAT THREE: We’ve been duped!

KAT TWO: How could we fall for such a myth?

KING KAT: Next to dogs, the one thing I hate more than anything is water! And you scaredy cats made me fall into it! That does it! You guys are in for it now!

KAT ONE: (Points to KING KAT.) Retreat!

(KING KAT chases ALL KATS around the moat while DOMINIC enters SL with a key, unlocking SALLY’S cage.)

SALLY: Way to go, little brother! I knew you had it in you!

(DOMINIC cries out of joy and embraces SALLY.)

DOMINIC: It was so scary! I didn’t think I was going to survive! You have no idea what I had to go through to get here! First, I had to leave home. Then, it started snowing. And then, there was a bunch of sand! Not only that, I had to deal with the mean kitty cats, the birds, and…

SALLY: (Patting DOMINIC.) There, there. It’s all over now. Let’s go home. You can tell me all about then. Sound good?

DOMINIC: Mm-hmm.

SALLY: Good. Now, let’s hit the road!

(DOMINIC and SALLY exit SL.)

NARRATOR: With Dominic finally being reunited with his sister, the two make it home safe and sound, ready to tackle other adventures that come their way. King Kat and his army of critters continue to wreak havoc, but Dominic (learning to face his fears) and Sally (still being the fearless adventurer she’s always been) confront and stop him, restoring peace to the land and living happily ever after.

End of Play